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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Czech diplomat reignites Rangers row as he makes wild Scotland Yard claim over Slavia Prague's Ibrox exit

The Czech Republic's ambassador to Britain has stoked the flames further by claiming he needed to contact Scotland Yard in the immediate aftermath of Rangers' clash with Slavia Prague.

It's just the latest in a series of outlandish claims that have emanated from the Eastern European country following Ondrej Kudela being accused of racially abusing Glen Kamara.

The vile incident at the end of last Thursday's Europa League clash sent reverberations around Europe with football coming together to rally around the Finland international.

Slavia claimed they were the victims in a series of scattergun of updates in the hours following the Ibrox showdown making a series of unverified accusations in the direction of Rangers and Glen Kamara.

Rangers' Connor Goldson (right) and Glen Kamara react to Slavia's Ondre Kudela (SNS Group)

The recriminations haven't slowed down and Kudela won't travel back to UK for his county's clash with Wales due to unfounded "safety" fears. UEFA are currently investigating the incident that left the football world stunned.

And now politician Libor Secka has revealed he had to phone the police headquarters to get the Met Police to contact their Glasgow counterparts for assistance at Ibrox.

He said: "I watched the match and it was a very tense game. Then after that incident, I had a strong feeling something was going to happen.

"We provide a consular service and when our citizens turn to us, we try to find solutions for them.

Tempers flare seconds after the vile racism claim (PA)

"The Slavia Prague party called me because they felt threatened. We discussed everything and I found out what the situation was.

"We decided to contact the police here and ask them for increased protection. The London headquarters then contacted the Scots, who got in touch with us and assured us they had the situation under control and the team would get to the hotel safely. Communication with the police was very good.

"People from Slavia mentioned the incidents, but my concern at the time was not to investigate that, just to provide them with protection. I can't comment on what happened at the stadium, I wasn't there and it wouldn't be objective.

"We assisted Slavia until their departure and gave them contacts with the Scottish Police for their criminal complaint.

"I am very sad all this has happened. I have understood sport all my life as a means of connecting people and when the opposite happens, it bothers me terribly and it hurts.

"Thanks to Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal in West Ham, a very good atmosphere for the cooperation of Czech and British football had developed. And it was suddenly in danger. I felt a huge disappointment from that.

"Once UEFA makes their decision, further steps will follow. Of course, I have an opinion because I am a Czech football fan too, but my job is not to strengthen any negative emotions, I have to look for ways to get out of it. It's a series of steps to ease tensions and put everything on a rational basis."

And Secka is convinced there will be no ramifications for the Czechs who play Scotland in the opening game of Euro 2020 this summer.

He pointed out: "When I look at social media, it exaggerates everything and you get the feeling we are at war with Great Britain! That is simply not true.

"I don't see this summer as a cause for concern. It is a European Championship, a prestigious event. I believe that it will be secured in all respects by the organisers and it will not take place until June.

"Additionally, there will be elections in Scotland in May, the country is undergoing a dynamic political process, the Scots are concentrating on completely different things than just football. I don't think the atmosphere will be disturbed in any way."

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